Edinburgh at Hogmanay

[Time Waster]

Well last night we arrived at our hotel halfway from Edinburgh City centre to the airport. Today we've toured through the city and a little up to castle and Royal Mile. Tonight is the torchlight procession we're taking part in.

Does anyone have suggestions for short break activities over the new year period in Edinburgh and area? Day and evening. Any suggestions to be suitable with our 12yo son.

We're thinking one day at Falkirk might be nice to see the Kelpies and Falkirk Wheel. Have van and tram tickets so can travel to the coast on the tram

 

[Kingfisher101]

Cramond Island.

 

[Brandane]

I would stay in the Edinburgh city area. There is a lot to do but I can't guess at what you enjoy doing so can only suggest you visit tourist info centre. The open top bus tour is a good way to see a lot in a short time, while getting a history lesson at the same time. Maybe the Royal yacht Britannia?
Falkirk is a dump, with the exception of The Wheel, and possibly the Kelpies (if you like that sort of thing. Personally they do nothing for me; one of them looks as if it is in pain!).
Linlithgow is a much nicer place than Falkirk. Likewise Dunbar or North Berwick in the other direction.
South Queensferry is nice too.

Edit to add.... Do you have access to bikes? NCR 754 along the Union canal starts near Lothian Road and takes you all the way to the Falkirk Wheel. You might have a bit of a westerly breeze to battle against in the next few days though! Possibly a bit wet too, until Thursday when the sub zero temps set in.

 

[Emanresu]

Have a great time

 

[Baldy]

Dynamic Earth
0131 550 7800

https://g.co/kgs/5GX6Y9j
Don't know whether it's open or not but we'll worth a look.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Dynamic Earth
0131 550 7800

https://g.co/kgs/5GX6Y9j
Don't know whether it's open or not but we'll worth a look.

I was there a few years ago with a 12 yo.
They really enjoyed it, so did I.

 

[Regular.Cyclist]

The “coast” near where the tram terminates (Newhaven end) is pretty much a harbour and a breakwater that leads out to Lighthouse Park at the end. A few restaurants around Newhaven and the harbour but no retail establishments beyond that.

Ocean Terminal is the previous stop. Worth going there if you want to visit the Royal Yacht Britannia but there is not really much more than that. They are in the process of demolishing the eastern end of it to repurpose the area.

The Shore may also be of interest. The stop is actually on Constitution Street but it’s a short walk to the Shore itself. It’s the end of the Water of Leith and there are quite a few cafes and restaurants around there.

 

[Flick of the Elbow]

The castle of course, the zoo, Mary King’s Close, Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway https://www.bkrailway.co.uk/events

 

[Flick of the Elbow]

 

[Flick of the Elbow]

Another thought, the new surf centre at Ratho
https://www.lostshore.com/events/whats-on

 

[Salad Dodger]

Be aware that, it is being reported tonight, some activities are being cancelled due to the severe weather which is being forecast to hit before new year. BBC news has the story, so I guess other sources will have too.

Sorry to put a potential dampener upon your trip......

 

[Time Waster]

Yep! We collected our torch and went to a cafe to wait for the start time. Got kicked out of the cafe at 630pm just after being told out was cancelled by the staff. A local in the cafe said they've been doing it for so long the weather never cancels it. She said it would go ahead with this breeze. The she checked a website that confirmed cancelled. She was pissed at that!

We walked to the start to hear the truth and a security guy collected our torch and told us it was cancelled due to the wind. Mind I think it was right, it was a wee bit blowy. Not quite a hoolie but a bit of a blow for several thousands of people with flaming torches!

Apparently they're deciding on what can go ahead. We've only booked the torch event, we'll get a refund in a few days. The rest we haven't. Still, if the fireworks don't happen I think the trip might as well have been made in the summer as it's simply an ordinary tourist trip not the big Hogmanay event it should have been. Not a cheap stay all in neither. Annoying to say the least!

Still, we're making the best of it we can. Edinburgh is a nice city in its own right without the new year's big event. You hear more foreigners than locals on prince's St and up to the castle. Although some of the local Scots sound foreign even for the Scottish to me. Can't catch what some are saying and I had friends from Glasgow and far southwest of Scotland / a far as Stranraer! They sound less Scottish and more like a few foreigners (a few Scandinavian one here it seems).

 

[Time Waster]

View attachment 757095

Aye! I have a better photo of that sign if you want it!

 

[Flick of the Elbow]

You haven’t said what sort of things your 12 yo might be interested in. Fingers crossed it’s museums and galleries

Edit : if you don’t mind the weather there’s lots of walk ideas listed here https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/lothian/edinburgh.shtml

 

[Time Waster]

You haven’t said what sort of things your 12 yo might be interested in. Fingers crossed it’s museums and galleries

Edit : if you don’t mind the weather there’s lots of walk ideas listed here https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/lothian/edinburgh.shtml

It's not exactly his thing to do museums. Fortunately Edinburgh has good shopping which is his thing. Too many of my grans shopaholic genes in him for my liking! Unfortunately he spent up on the first day here!

Seriously he's likely to just enjoy exploring and getting his phone out.